Andrej Sustr

Andrej Šustr
Šustr with the Tampa Bay Lightning in December 2014
Born	(1990-11-29) 29 November 1990 (age 26) Plzeň, Czechoslovakia
Height	6 ft 7 in (201 cm)
Weight	225 lb (102 kg; 16 st 1 lb)
Position	Defence
Shoots	Right
NHL team	Tampa Bay Lightning
National team	Czech Republic
NHL Draft	Undrafted
Playing career	2013–present

Andrej Šustr (born 29 November 1990) is a Czech professional ice hockey defenceman currently playing for the Tampa Bay Lightning of the National Hockey League (NHL). An undrafted player, Šustr made his NHL debut with the Lightning in 2013 after playing three seasons of collegiate hockey with the University of Nebraska–Omaha.

Šustr grew up in the city of Plzeň, but after finding little opportunity in his home town, was encouraged to move to the United States at the age of 17 to play junior hockey. He spent a year with the Kenai River Brown Bears of the North American Hockey League (NAHL) in 2008–09 before moving up to the Youngstown Phantoms of the United States Hockey League (USHL) in 2009–10. The University of Omaha–Nebraska ice hockey program then recruited Šustr to join their program in 2010. He played three seasons with the Mavericks, appearing in 111 games and recording 15 goals and 51 points.

An undrafted player, Šustr participated in NHL development camps with the Tampa Bay Lightning, Pittsburgh Penguins and New York Rangers. After completing his junior season at Omaha, he signed a professional contract with the Lightning on 21 March 2013. He made his NHL debut on 29 March against the New Jersey Devils. He appeared in two games in Tampa before being assigned to their American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Syracuse Crunch. He played eight regular season games with Syracuse, scoring two goals and adding an assist, while the Crunch reached the Calder Cup Final against the Grand Rapids Griffins.